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Comment by neverminder | Hacker News Reader

I've ordered Google's Pixel Slate (core i7 CPU, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD). Unlike iPad it can switch from tablet to a full blown desktop mode - it has pretty much standard keyboard with "Esc" key and mouse track pad. Slate supports Chrome OS, Android and lately Linux native apps - come to think of it I don't think there's a device out there that supports more apps out of the box.

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There is such a device: Microsoft Surface.

The device you purchased is $1800, which puts it even beyond the iPad Pro. Are there any Android tablets that compete in this market?

Are you saying that out of the box Surface supports more apps than Chrome OS, Android and Linux apps combined? Slate is expensive, but to people like me - top of the line specs, the best screen there is and support for all those apps is worth it.

If I had to speculate I'd say that Google is phasing out Android from tablets in favor of Chrome OS to have the best of both worlds.

I would argue the fact, that today’s surface run pretty much unfettered windows 10 gives them more useful software than Chrome Os, Android, and Linux. Who cares about the Android and Chrome Os apps when they are mostly social networks, media consumption, or badly ported phone apps, and when you can literally install and run in compatibility mode pretty much any software ever written for windows.

Android tablet productivity apps are really bad. So are Linux desktop apps, on tablets.

ChromeOS nominally runs Android apps but not well. For example Firefox on ChromeOS can't resize windows, scroll properly, etc. You can't honestly be lusting at the Android ecosystem on a $1800 device.

ChromeOS will no doubt improve here but surely you don't believe in the "more apps!" argument today.

With a couple of tweaks I have WSL and Hyper-V on my Surface and I am super happy with this setup. I’m a switcher from MBP. Best of all worlds really, excellent hardware (screen/keyboard/battery-wise), runs anything I need. Can’t see myself going back to Mac. Nor attempting to do Real Work on Android!

Why did you buy a tablet to run WSL and Hyper-V, instead of a traditional laptop?

A Surface is a traditional laptop, just one with a removable keyboard which is handy for various scenarios. Basically it’s a laptop and tablet in one and covers the use cases of both. If I need serious power I push that workload up to Azure.

Hmm, are you perhaps referring to the Surface Book? The Surface requires a stand even with the keyboard attached, making it awkward to use in your lap, etc.

There is also now the Surface laptop (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/p/surface-laptop-1st-gen/90f...)

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